Longitudinally adjustable assembly for a bicycle seat

ABSTRACT

A longitudinally adjustable assembly for a bicycle seat has a seat tube, a seat post and an auxiliary hoop device. The seat tube has an inner surface and multiple longitudinal grooves formed in the inner surface of the seat tube. The seat post is slidably inserted into the seat tube and has an outer surface and multiple protrusions. The protrusions are formed on and protrude out from the outer surface of the seat post. The protrusions are respectively slidably mounted in the longitudinal grooves to allow the seat post to longitudinally move along the seat tube. The auxiliary hoop device is mounted securely with the seat tube and around the seat post. Because the protrusions are slidably mounted in the longitudinal grooves and the auxiliary hoop device provides a pressing force for the seat post, a relative rotation between the seat post and the seat tube can be avoided.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an adjustable assembly for a bicycleseat, and more particularly to a longitudinally adjustable assembly fora bicycle seat to avoid a relative rotation between a seat post and aseat tube.

2. Description of Related Art

A conventional adjustable assembly for a bicycle seat has a seat tube, aseat post and a fastener. The seat post is slidably inserted into theseat tube and has a top end mounted outside the seat tube and connectedto a bicycle seat. The fastener is connected with the seat post and theseat tube to secure the seat post on the seat tube. Accordingly, theseat post can be moved up or down along the seat tube to adjust a heightof the bicycle seat.

However, the seat tube and the seat post respectively have a round crosssectional shape. Consequently, a relative rotation between the seat tubeand the seat post happens because of a twist movement of a cyclist'sbuttocks.

Another conventional adjustable assembly for a bicycle seat has a seatpost. The seat post has an outer surface and multiple longitudinalprotrusions protruding out from the outer surface of the seat post. Thelongitudinal protrusions facilitate to enhance friction between the seatpost and the seat tube. However, friction provided by the longitudinalprotrusions is not sufficient.

To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention tends to provide alongitudinally adjustable assembly for a bicycle seat to obviate theaforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the invention is to provide a longitudinallyadjustable assembly for a bicycle seat to avoid a relative rotationbetween a seat post and a seat tube.

A longitudinally adjustable assembly for a bicycle seat has a seat tube,a seat post and an auxiliary hoop device. The seat tube has an innersurface and multiple longitudinal grooves formed in the inner surface ofthe seat tube. The seat post is slidably inserted into the seat tube andhas an outer surface and multiple protrusions. The protrusions areformed on and protrude out from the outer surface of the seat post. Theprotrusions are respectively slidably mounted in the longitudinalgrooves to allow the seat post to longitudinally move along the seattube. The auxiliary hoop device is mounted securely with the seat tubeand around the seat post. Because the protrusions are slidably mountedin the longitudinal grooves and the auxiliary hoop device provides apressing force for the seat post, a relative rotation between the seatpost and the seat tube can be avoided.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention willbecome more apparent from the following detailed description when takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective of a first embodiment of a longitudinallyadjustable assembly for a bicycle seat in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a partially exploded perspective view in partial section ofthe longitudinally adjustable assembly for a bicycle seat in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional top view of the longitudinallyadjustable assembly for a bicycle seat in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side view in partial section of the longitudinallyadjustable assembly for a bicycle seat in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of an auxiliary hoopdevice of the longitudinally adjustable assembly for a bicycle seat inFIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view in partial section of theauxiliary hoop device in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged top view in partial section of the auxiliary hoopdevice in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of a second embodimentof an auxiliary hoop device of a longitudinally adjustable assembly fora bicycle seat in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view in partial section of theauxiliary hoop device in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross sectional top view of another embodiment ofa longitudinally adjustable assembly for a bicycle seat in accordancewith the present invention;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of a third embodimentof an auxiliary loop device of a longitudinally adjustable assembly fora bicycle seat in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 12 is an enlarged top view in partial section of the auxiliary hoopdevice in FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, a first embodiment of a longitudinallyadjustable assembly for a bicycle seat in accordance with the presentinvention comprises a seat tube 10, a seat post 20 and an auxiliary hoopdevice 30.

The seat tube 10 has a top end, an inner surface and a tube connectingsection 11. The tube connecting section 11 is formed on the innersurface of the seat tube 10.

The seat post 20 is slidably inserted into the seat tube 10 and has anouter surface and a post connecting section 21. The post connectingsection 21 is formed on the outer surface of the seat post 20 and isconnected with the tube connecting section 11 to allow the seat post 20to longitudinally move along the seat tube 10.

Preferably, the tube connecting section 11 has multiple longitudinalgrooves 111 at intervals formed in the inner surface of the seat tube10. The post connecting section 21 has multiple protrusion recesses 211and multiple protrusions 212. The protrusion recesses 211 are atintervals formed in the outer surface of the seat post 20. Theprotrusions 212 are respectively mounted securely in and protrude outfrom the protrusion recesses 211 and are respectively slidably mountedin the longitudinal grooves 111. Accordingly, the longitudinal grooves111 can guide the protrusions 212 to move and avoid a relative rotationbetween the seat tube 10 and the seat post 20.

Preferably, the tube connecting section 11 may have a singlelongitudinal groove 111 and the post connecting section 21 may have asingle protrusion 212. As long as the protrusion 212 is slidably mountedin the longitudinal groove 111 to avoid a relative rotation between theseat tube 10 and the seat post 20, the present invention does not limitthe numbers of the longitudinal grooves 111 and the protrusions 212.

In another embodiment of the longitudinally adjustable assembly for abicycle seat in accordance with the present invention, the tubeconnecting section 11 may have multiple protrusions and the postconnecting section 21 may have multiple longitudinal groovesrespectively connected with the protrusions.

The auxiliary hoop device 30 is mounted securely in the top end of theseat tube 10, is mounted around the seat post 20 and may be aunidirectional bearing.

With further reference to FIGS. 5 to 7, preferably, the auxiliary hoopdevice 30 has a housing 31, a hoop 32, multiple abutting units 33 andmultiple elastomers 34. The housing 31 is mounted securely in the seattube 10 and has an inner surface, a top edge, a bottom edge, a firstflange 311, a second flange 312 and multiple abutting surfaces 313. Thebottom edge of the housing 31 is opposite to the top edge of the housing31. The first flange 311 is formed around the top edge of the housing 31and radially protrudes inward. The second flange 312 is formed aroundthe bottom edge of the housing 31 and radially protrudes inward. Theabutting surfaces 313 are formed at the inner surface of the housing 31.A cross sectional shape of each abutting surface 313 may be flat orconvex. Preferably, each abutting surface 313 is convex and has a convexsection 3131 and two concave sections 3132. Each convex section 3131 isformed between the concave sections 3132 of a corresponding abuttingsurface 313.

The hoop 32 is mounted in the housing 31 and has a top edge, a bottomedge, an outer surface and multiple hoop recesses 321. The top edge ofthe hoop 32 abuts the first flange 311. The bottom edge of the hoop 32abuts the second flange 312 to hold the hoop 32 between the first andsecond flanges 311,312. The hoop 32 is put in the housing 31 and thenthe top edge and the bottom edge of the housing 31 are respectively bentto form the first flange 311 and the second flange 312. Accordingly, thehoop 32 can be mounted in the housing 31.

The hoop recesses 321 are respectively formed radially though the outersurface of the hoop 32 at intervals. Each hoop recess 321 has an inneropening 3211 and an outer opening 3212.

The abutting units 33 are respectively mounted in the hoop recesses 321.Each abutting unit 33 has a first section, a second section and a leftside. The first section of each abutting unit 33 protrudes out from acorresponding inner opening 3211 of the hoop recesses 321 and abuts theouter surface of the seat post 20. The second section of each abuttingunit 33 is opposite to a corresponding first section and abuts one ofthe abutting surfaces 313. The abutting units 33 are rotatable but arestill normally because that the second sections of the abutting units 33respectively protrude into and abut the concave sections 3132 of theabutting surfaces 313 and are blocked by the convex sections 3131.

The elastomers 34 are respectively mounted in the outer openings 3212 ofthe hoop recesses 321, are respectively adjacent to the left sides ofthe abutting units 33 and respectively press the abutting units 33.Preferably, the elastomers 34 may be separated parts held in the outeropenings 3212 or be integrally formed in the outer openings 3212.Because the elastomers 34 respectively press the abutting units 33, theelastomers 34 can provide lateral forces to the abutting units 33. Ifthe seat post 20 is slightly rotated counterclockwise relative to thehousing 31, the abutting units 33 will press respectively the elastomers34 and rotate slightly. However, the seat post 20 is not rotated becausethe protrusions 212 are mounted in the longitudinal grooves 111.Therefore, pressing forces are always provided by the elastomers 34 andare applied to the abutting units 33 and the seat post 20 to let theseat post 20 still. Consequently, a relative rotation between the seatpost 20 and the seat tube 10 can be further avoided.

Preferably, each outer opening 3212 of the hoop recesses 321 has aconcave section 3213 encompassing a corresponding elastomer 34 andhaving a bottom. The hoop 32 has multiple positioning lumps 322respectively radially protruding from the bottoms of the concavesections 3213.

Preferably, each inner opening 3211 of the hoop recesses 321 has awidth. Each outer opening 3212 of the hoop recesses 321 has a widthlarger than that of each inner opening 3211 of the hoop recesses 321.Each abutting unit 33 is cylindrical and has a diameter larger than thewidth of each inner opening 3211 of the hoop recesses 321 and not largerthan the width of each outer opening 3212 of the hoop recesses 321.Because the diameter of each abutting unit 33 is larger than the widthof each inner opening of the hoop recesses 321, the first section ofeach abutting unit 33 can partially protrude out but not escape from thecorresponding inner opening 3211 of the hoop recesses 321.

Each elastomer 34 is C-shaped, surrounds a corresponding positioninglump 322 and has two ends and a central segment. The ends of eachelastomer 34 abut a corresponding abutting unit 33. The central segmentof each elastomer 34 abuts a corresponding positioning lump 322. Withreference to FIGS. 2 to 4, preferably, the seat post 20 has a top end.The longitudinally adjustable assembly further has a rod device 40. Therod device 40 has a rod 41, a controller 42 and a fastener 43. The rod41 is relatively slidably mounted in the seat post 20 and has a top endand a bottom end. The controller 42 is mounted securely with the top endof the seat post 20 and is connected to the top end of the rod 41. Thecontroller 42 can control a movement of the rod 41 relative to the seatpost 20. The fastener 43 is mounted securely in the seat tube 10 and ismounted securely around the bottom end of the rod 41. Accordingly, theseat post 20 can be moved up or down by the controller 42 controllingthe rod 41 and a height of a bicycle seat can be adjusted. The roddevice 40 may be conventional and detailed description is omitted.

With reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, a second embodiment of an auxiliaryhoop device 30A of a longitudinally adjustable assembly for a bicycleseat in accordance with the present invention is substantially the sameas that of the first embodiment. Each abutting unit 33A has multipleballs 331A. The balls 331A are arranged along a line. Each ball 331A hasa diameter larger than the width of each inner opening 3211 of the hooprecesses 321. Each elastomer 34A is hooped, surrounds a correspondingpositioning lump 322 and abuts a corresponding abutting unit 33A.

With further reference to FIG. 10, another embodiment of alongitudinally adjustable assembly for a bicycle seat in accordance withthe present invention is substantially the same as that of the firstembodiment. The seat tube 10B has a polygonal cross sectional shape andmultiple corners. The longitudinal grooves 111B are respectively formedat the corners of the seat tube 10B. The seat post 20B has a polygonalcross sectional shape same as that of the seat tube 10B and has multiplecorners. The protrusions 212B are respectively formed at the corners ofthe seat post 20B. Consequently, the relative rotation between the seattube 10B and the seat post 20B can also be avoided.

With further reference to FIGS. 11 and 12, a third embodiment of alongitudinally adjustable assembly for a bicycle in accordance with thepresent invention is substantially the same as that of the firstembodiment except that the auxiliary hoop device 30C of the thirdembodiment is a unidirectional bearing and has a housing 31C, a hoop32C, multiple abutting units 33C and multiple elastomers 34C. Theabutting surfaces 313C of the housing 31C incline in a same rotationaldirection and each abutting surface 313C has a right side and a convexsection 3132C. The convex section 3132C of each abutting surface 313C isformed at the right side of the abutting surface 313C.

The hoop recesses 321C of the hoop 32C are respectively formed radiallythough the hoop 32C at intervals and each hoop recesses 321C has aninner side surface. The elastomers 34C are respectively formed at andprotrude from the inner side surfaces of the hoop recesses 321C. Theabutting units 33C are cylindrical, are respectively mounted in the hooprecesses 321C and are respectively pressed by the elastomers 34C. Thehoop device 30C may be a conventional unidirectional bearing anddetailed description and operational principle are omitted.

From the above description, it is noted that the present invention hasthe following advantage:

A relative rotation between the seat post 20,20B and the seat tube10,10B can be avoided.

Because the protrusions 212,212B are slidably mounted in thelongitudinal grooves 111,111B and the auxiliary hoop device 30,30B,30Cprovides a pressing force for the seat post 20,20B, the relativerotation between the seat post 20,20B and the seat tube 10,10B can beavoided.

Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the presentinvention have been set forth in the foregoing description, togetherwith details of the structure and function of the invention, thedisclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail,especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts withinthe principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by thebroad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims areexpressed.

1. A longitudinally adjustable assembly for a bicycle seat comprising: aseat tube having a top end; an inner surface; and a tube connectingsection formed on the inner surface of the seat tube; a seat postslidably inserted into the seat tube and having an outer surface; and apost connecting section formed on the outer surface of the seat post andconnected with the tube connecting section to allow the seat post tolongitudinally move along the seat tube; and an auxiliary hoop devicemounted securely in the top end of the seat tube and mounted securelyaround the seat post.
 2. The longitudinally adjustable assembly for abicycle seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein the auxiliary hoop devicehas a housing mounted securely in the seat tube having an inner surface;a top edge; a bottom edge opposite to the top edge of the housing; afirst flange formed around the top edge of the housing and radiallyprotruding inward; and a second flange formed around the bottom edge ofthe housing and radially protruding inward; multiple abutting surfacesformed at the inner surface of the housing, each abutting surface havingtwo concave sections and a convex section which is formed between theconcave sections; a hoop mounted in the housing and having a top edgeabutting the first flange; a bottom edge abutting the second flange; anouter surface; multiple hoop recesses respectively formed radiallythough the outer surface of the hoop at intervals, each hoop recesshaving an inner opening and an outer opening; multiple abutting unitsrespectively mounted in the hoop recesses, each abutting unit having afirst section protruding out from a corresponding inner opening of thehoop recesses and abutting the outer surface of the seat post; and asecond section opposite to the first section, protruding into andabutting one of the concave sections of a corresponding abuttingsurface; and multiple elastomers respectively mounted in the outeropenings of the hoop recesses and respectively abutting the abuttingunits.
 3. The longitudinally adjustable assembly for a bicycle seat asclaimed in claim 2, wherein the outer opening of each hoop recesses hasa concave section encompassing a corresponding elastomer and having abottom; and the hoop has multiple positioning lumps respectivelyradially protruding from the bottoms of the concave sections of the hooprecesses.
 4. The longitudinally adjustable assembly for a bicycle seatas claimed in claim 3, wherein the inner opening of each hoop recess hasa width; the outer opening of each hoop recess has a width larger thanthat of the inner opening of the hoop recess; each abutting unit iscylindrical and has a diameter larger than the width of the Inneropening of a corresponding one of the hoop recesses; and each elastomeris C-shaped, surrounds a corresponding positioning lump and has two endsrespectively abutting a corresponding abutting unit; and a centralsegment abutting the corresponding positioning lump.
 5. Thelongitudinally adjustable assembly for a bicycle seat as claimed inclaim 3, wherein the inner opening of each hoop recess has a width; theouter opening of each hoop recess has a width larger than that of theinner opening of the hoop recess; each abutting unit has multiple ballsarranged along a line, each ball having a diameter larger than the widthof the inner opening of a corresponding one of the hoop recesses; andeach elastomer is hooped, surrounds a corresponding positioning lump andabuts a corresponding abutting unit.
 6. The longitudinally adjustableassembly for a bicycle seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein the auxiliaryhoop device is a unidirectional bearing.
 7. The longitudinallyadjustable assembly for a bicycle seat as claimed in claim 6, whereinthe auxiliary hoop device comprises a housing having an inner surface;and multiple abutting surfaces formed at the inner surface of thehousing and inclining in a same rotational direction, each abuttingsurface having a side and a convex section which is formed at the side;a hoop having multiple hoop recesses respectively formed radially thoughthe hoop at intervals, each hoop recess having an inner side surface;multiple elastomers respectively formed at and protruding from the innerside surfaces of the hoop recesses; and multiple abutting unitsrespectively mounted in the hoop recesses and respectively pressed bythe elastomers.
 8. The longitudinally adjustable assembly for a bicycleseat as claimed in claim 4, wherein the tube connecting section hasmultiple longitudinal grooves at intervals formed in the inner surfaceof the seat tube; the post connecting section has multiple protrusionrecesses at intervals formed in the outer surface of the seat post; andmultiple protrusions respectively mounted securely in and protruding outfrom the protrusion recesses and respectively slidably mounted in thelongitudinal grooves.
 9. The longitudinally adjustable assembly for abicycle seat as claimed in claim 7, wherein the tube connecting sectionhas multiple longitudinal grooves at intervals formed in the innersurface of the seat tube; the post connecting section has multipleprotrusion recesses at intervals formed in the outer surface of the seatpost; and multiple protrusions respectively mounted securely in andprotruding out from the protrusion recesses and respectively slidablymounted in the longitudinal grooves.
 10. The longitudinally adjustableassembly for a bicycle seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein the seat tubehas a polygonal cross sectional shape; and the seat post has a polygonalcross sectional shape same as that of the seat tube.